International Journal of Information Science 2020, 10(1): 9-14 DOI: 10.5923/j.ijis.20201001.02 Scientific Paper Structure for Agricultural Economists Jacqueline Baidoo Department of Agriculture Economics and Agribusiness, School of Basic and Applied Sciences, University for Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana Abstract The introduction; materials and methods; results and discussion (IMRAD) structure makes it easy for one to present his research findings. Is this structure applicable for agriculture economics and agribusiness scientists? This question was answered using 5 journals from SCOPUS. IMRAD structure is good since it helps the reader to follow the sequence of a paper. The IMRAD structure should be IMRADC to include the conclusion since conclusion summarizes the findings and discussions and also make recommendations. Agricultural economics journals should stick to the IMRADC structure. Keywords IMRAD, Agriculture economics, Scientific paper structure, Paper writing reviewing papers in recent issues of journals published. 1. Introduction This study on the IMRAD structure would help agricultural economist scientist follow a set of pattern for writing The introduction; materials and methods; results and papers. discussion (IMRAD) structure was adapted in 1970 and from 1972, it was a requirement by editors [1]. This structure since then is widely accepted in scientific writing. 2. Methods The IMRAD structure provides a skeleton for structuring a The research question was answered by finding out from research paper [2]. This structure makes it easy for one to agriculture economics and agribusiness colleagues at the present his research findings [2]. There has however, been University of Ghana the journals they publish in. Fifteen challenges with the IMRAD structure regarding which journals were identified. A follow up was made on the information to put on each structure [3]. This has brought internet by cross checking if they are SCOPUS journals. an improvement in the IMRAD structure. Other journals Publications that was not on SCOPUS were rejected. use IRDAM, [4] IMRADC and IMRADAC. The following journals mentioned by colleagues were in The IMRAD structure does not fit economics and SCOPUS database; Journal of Agricultural Economics, sociology [5]. Agriculture and other related studies now Agribusiness: an international journal, African journal for include conclusion and recommendation in their write ups. rural development, African Journal of Agricultural and This is because applied scientist uses already known theory Resource Economics and African Journal of Food, to provide answer to questions. The IMRAD structure is not Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (Table 1). Journal able to properly fit into agriculture researches [6]. volumes published in 2019/2020 were selected. A journal Agriculture papers are sub titled differently making it issue on the webpage of the selected journals was randomly difficult for readers to know the part of the IMRAD selected as seen on the website. The following issues as structure they are reading. There has currently been no shown below were selected. study to find out if agriculture peer reviewed journals are Journal of Agricultural Economics issue 3 using the IMRAD structure. Agribusiness: an international journal issue 1 The IMRAD structure is not a straight jacket since it is African journal for rural development issue 1 silent on crucial components of a modern research paper [3]. African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics It has plenty of room for creativity and innovation. Is the issue 4 IMRAD structure applicable for agriculture economics and African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and agribusiness scientist? The question was answered by Development issue 5 Each paper in the journal was checked to see if it followed * Corresponding author: the IMRAD structure (Table 1). There were sections for [email protected] (Jacqueline Baidoo) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ijis introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion and Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Scientific & Academic Publishing others as specified by the authors. Sections that implied any This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International of the IMRAD structure and not stated explicitly was License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ grouped under the IMRAD structure it implied (Table 1). 10 Jacqueline Baidoo: Scientific Paper Structure for Agricultural Economists 3. Results methodology as topics under materials and methods (Table 1). About half (21 out of 49) used results separately (Table 1). All journals except African journal of Food, Agriculture, One third (14 out of 49) papers compared results and nutrition and Development has introduction explicitly discussion in one section. Discussion section does not appear specified. Food, Agriculture, nutrition and Development has in most papers. About 31 out of 49 papers does not have a a continuous text format of structure in its presentation so section on discussion (Table 1). It appears that discussion is does not follow the IMRAD structure. About 4 out of 39 either combined with results or conclusion. This confirms journals had background and introduction of specific topics the challenge with the IMRAD structure regarding which as titles aside introduction (Table 1). Background and information to put on each structure [3]. Three studies hypothesis are some issues addressed under hypothesis [5]. combined discussion and conclusion in one section and one Introduction is widely used in headings. study used conclusion in place of discussion. All journals No study addressed materials as a section. This might be except African Journal of Food, Agriculture, nutrition and because agriculture economics does not use materials. Development had other sections like conclusion and policy Survey is mostly used in collecting data, and rigorous implication (Table 1). This shows the significance of economic methods/tools used for analysis More than half conclusion and recommendation in agriculture studies. (23 out of 49) of the papers used data, methods and Table 1. IMRAD Structure Outlined in the Journal Journal Introduction Materials and methods Results Discussion others results and [8] Introduction Methodology; Dataset conclusion discussion Choice Experiment Design; Model Specification; Discussion and [9] Introduction Estimation Results Conclusions Separate Measuring the Cost of Risk and Adverse Shocks; Application: A Case [10] Introduction Implications Estimating Risk Exposure Study of Corn Yield Economics Theoretical Framework; Optimal Empirical Analysis Agri-environmental Policy Design with Targeting of a Peatland Conclusions and [11] Introduction Strategy; Design of Agri-environmental Policy Retirement Policy Implications with Bilateral Information Asymmetry Programme Agricultural Econometric Strategy of [12] Introduction Results Conclusions Data and Quality Estimations Discussion: The Journal The PPP Compensation Model; Implications of Numerical Social Benefits [13] Introduction Conclusion the Optimal PPP Solution Illustration of Biosecurity Partnerships The Trade Effect of Non-tariff Measures; The Results and Conclusions and [14] Introduction Meta-analytical Approach Discussion Policy Implications Table 1. Continued: IMRAD Structure Outlined in the Journal Journal Introduction Materials and methods Results Discussion others Conclusion and Theoretical Model and Hypotheses; Results and [15] Introduction Policy Data; Willingness to Pay Discussion Implications Introduction; Post-Soviet Data Sources and Measurement [16] Dairy Chain Restructuring in Issues; Hypotheses and Results Discussion Conclusions Economics Russia and Kazakhstan Econometric Specification [17] Introduction Data and Methods Results Discussion Theoretical Background and Estimation Conclusion and [18] Introduction Existing Empirical Literature; Strategy and Agricultural Extensions of Results Data Estimation Discussion and [19] Introduction Method and Data Results Conclusions Journal Introduction; Blackberrry Conceptual Framework; Methods [20] Results Conclusions Value Chains in Ecuador and Data Introduction; Discussion and [21] Data and Methods Results Setting Conclusion International Journal of Information Science 2020, 10(1): 9-14 11 Journal Introduction Materials and methods Results Discussion others Data description; Estimation [22] Introduction Results Discussion Conclusion methodology Summary and [23] Introduction Methods; Data Results conclusion Hypothesis development; Data and Discussion and [24] Introduction Results variables; Econometric model conclusion journal Methodology; [25] Introduction Results Conclusions Data and empirical specification Introduction; [26] Data and empirical strategy Results Conclusions international Background an [27] Theoretical framework; empirical Results and Introduction Conclusions framework discussion [28] Introduction Method and data Results Conclusions Policy Agribusiness: Introduction; implication; [29] Methods Results Background conclusions separate Survey and data; Conceptual and [30] Introduction Results Conclusions empirical model Empirical Introduction; overview of the [31] Methodology results and Conclusion local agricultural sector discussion Model Introduction; hog production Conclusion and [32] Theory; methodology processing and Discussions and cooperatives in china future research empirical results Table 1. Continued: IMRAD Structure Outlined in the Journal Journal Introduction